CTA 2
Media Monitoring

Our media monitoring section features the latest news on data about Afghanistan and migration. It also provides a weekly overview of the most discussed topics in the media and useful information on IOM’s and other international responses.

News
16 - 28 February 2022

In this period, the media coverage continued to focus on the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan particularly on the human rights situation in the country.  

The issues raised in the articles also have implications for migration. Various articles also reported about  Afghans on the move and and pushbacks of Afghans on the Balkan route. According to EuroStat, a total of 560,710 first-time asylum applications were filled by Afghan nationals in the European Union (EU-27) countries between 2015 and 2020 (Eurostat, 2021). Learn more about Afghans on the move in our data spotlights. 

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SECURITY

Repairing homes on former frontlines in Afghanistan

With active fighting subsiding in Afghanistan since troop withdrawal and change of power dynamics in 2021, people are returning home to areas that used to be battlefields

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DISABILITY

Afghan refugee removes obstacles barring kids with disabilities from school

In Pakistan, Jamil provides wheelchairs to get refugees with disabilities into the classroom and give them a shot at a future. 

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BalkanAfgh
AFGHANS ABROAD

Balkan Route: New Reports about Croatian Pushbacks and Mistreatment of People in Transit

Following an exposé of Croatian mistreatment of migrants, police were sent an email that provides “written proof that the pushbacks were ordered by the authorities”.  

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AFGHAN ABROAD

“I escaped the Taliban – the Borders Bill will criminalize Afghan refugees like me.”

Before arriving in Britain I shared a lorry with 70 people, was beaten, and slept rough for months – Coventry gave me sanctuary, helped me rebuild my life, and start a business. 

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RESETTLEMENT

Afghan families in Edinburgh still waiting on permanent housing

City of Edinburgh Council said it will have some refugees who have fled Afghanistan permanently rehoused ‘by the end of the month’. 

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AfgArmy
SECURITY SITUATION

Taliban to create Afghanistan ‘grand army’ with old regime troops

The Taliban is creating a “grand army” for Afghanistan that will include officers and troops who served the old regime, says the official tasked with overseeing the military’s transformation. Afghanistan’s army disintegrated in the face of a Taliban onslaught ahead of the August 31 US-led force withdrawal. 

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WomenAfg
WOMEN AND GIRLS

Struggling to survive: gender, displacement and migration in Taliban controlled Afghanistan

Taliban leaders are currently implementing a raft of discriminatory measures to effectively erase women’s participation in civil life in Afghanistan. For many women around the world, such measures are unthinkable, almost impossible to comprehend. In Afghanistan, the changes are not surprising given its past experiences of the Taliban, but they are nevertheless profoundly terrifying. 

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DISABILITY

NGOs call for international aid for people with disabilities in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is home to a particularly large number of people with disabilities. Hardship has worsened their situation, and they feel disregarded by the Taliban. 

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WOMEN AND GIRLS

Taliban control universities: Only a few Afghan female students return

Afghanistan's major universities are resuming their teaching activities. The Taliban have promised that women will also have unhindered access to their studies. However, the female students do not feel welcome. 

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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Economic Warfare

The impoverishment in Afghanistan as a result of US sanctions is spreading through the entire population. 

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EVACUATION

"Half of me stayed in Afghanistan"

Baran C. was a Bundeswehr aid worker in Afghanistan. He saved himself from the Taliban and came to Germany. Three sons, however, had to stay behind. This is his story. 

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ASYLUM

Many Afghans are waiting for recognition as refugees

Around 30,000 Afghan refugees are currently waiting for their asylum applications to be processed. The recognition rate of Afghan refugees after the Taliban came to power is almost 99 percent. 

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PolioAfg
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

UN says 8 polio workers killed in Afghanistan

The United Nations said Thursday at least eight members of polio vaccination teams were killed “during the course of their life-saving work” in Afghanistan. Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Secretary-General's deputy special representative for the South Asian nation, strongly condemned the violence while disclosing details of the incidents in the Afghan provinces of Takhar and Kunduz.  

1 – 15 February 2022

In the first half of February human rights and humanitarian issues remained at the forefront of international media coverage on Afghanistan. While the Taliban continued diplomatic talks with governments and UN officials, recent detentions of journalists and women activists in Afghanistan made international headlines.

Some reports noted that while Taliban officials demand to unfreeze national assets, the decision by United States President Joe Biden to allocate part of Afghanistan’s unfrozen funds to victims of 9/11 has sparked protests in Afghanistan. News outlets also reported on the Taliban’s various diplomatic visits including meetings with WHO’s Director General.

All of the issues raised in the various articles have implications for migration and mobility. The vulnerable situation of Afghan women and girls, gender-based discrimination and violence, as well as a disproportionate impact of the decades-long economic and political instability have been strong drivers of migration and displacement. 

 

 

 

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Evacuations

Qatar reaches deal with Taliban to resume evacuations

Deal reported by Axios allows biweekly chartered flights and comes as the US reportedly seeks to re-up Afghan resettlements.  

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Security Situation

U.N. urges Taliban to release information about missing journalists

The United Nation's mission to Afghanistan on Tuesday called on the Taliban administration to release details on the detention of two Afghan journalists who disappeared the previous day.

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Security Situation

Abducted Afghan journalists released, employer says

Two Afghan journalists who disappeared this week have been released, their employer said on Wednesday, after the United Nations called on the Taliban to provide information on their whereabouts.

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Women and Girls

Taliban reopen universities for Afghan women in 6 provinces

The Taliban on Wednesday said they have reopened public universities for women students in six of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, a move marking a major concession to international demands by the country’s new rulers.

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USDEPT
Humanitarian Crisis

US allows money transfer to Afghanistan, lifted many financial sanctions

The United States said that international banks can transfer money to Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes and that the aid agencies can also pay the salaries of teachers and health workers in all state-run institutions.

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arrestgirlsafghanistan
Women and Girls

Afghanistan: UN calls for information on arrest of two feminist activists

The United Nations publicly asked the Taliban on Thursday, February 3, to provide information regarding the alleged arrest of two feminist activists in Afghanistan. These arrests come two weeks after the disappearance of two other activists.  

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afghhasmillions
Humanitarian Crisis

UN has millions in Afghanistan bank, but cannot use it

The United Nations has about USD 135 million in the bank in Afghanistan but is unable to use it because the Taliban-run central bank cannot convert it to the Afghani currency, a senior UN official said on Thursday.

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Evacuations

U.S. faces snags in bid to speed up at-risk Afghan evacuations

A lack of flights and the search for a new U.S. reception center are among the hurdles facing the White House as it races to speed up the evacuation of at-risk Afghans from their homeland, according to a senior U.S. official and others familiar with the new plan.

15-31 January 2022

In this period, media coverage has focused mainly on the economic, humanitarian and human rights situation of people in Afghanistan. Reports noted that amidst concerns of lack of international aid and the grave humanitarian situation, Taliban officials have conducted diplomatic visits to build relations with other countries and the UN system to access international funds.  Some articles continue to report on evacuations, media in Germany reported that many people fleeing the Taliban, still hope to get help from governments, such as Germany. Natural disasters such as the 5.3 magnitude earthquake in the Western Region of Afghanistan on 17 January, which killed at least 26 people, add to the grim humanitarian situation many Afghans are currently facing, fueled by severe drought.   

All the issues raised in the various articles have implications for migration. As of the end of 2020, an estimated total of 4.6 million Afghans were living in internal displacement. Among the stock of IDPs globally, Afghanistan hosted the highest number of IDPs due to disasters and the fifth highest number of IDPs due to conflict and violence (IDMC, 2021). See the Portal spotlight on internal displacement in Afghanistan for current operational data.

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Evacuations

Threatened people in Afghanistan hope for refuge in Germany (in German)

At the end of 2021, Germany had evacuated around 10,000 people from Afghanistan. But thousands are still fleeing the Taliban in their own country. Many of them hope for help from Germany. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is ready to do so.  

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earthquake_afghan
Humanitarian Crisis

Two earthquakes kill at least 26 people in western Afghanistan (in French)

The tragedy comes as Afghanistan is already facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, fueled by severe droughts during the year, which particularly affected remote and rural provinces such as Badghis.  

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Women and Girls

According to the UN, the Taliban are increasingly pushing women out of public life

Restrictions on freedom of movement, dress codes, professional bans: according to a UN report, women in Afghanistan are systematically discriminated against and marginalized.

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taliban_conference
Humanitarian Crisis

Taliban economy conference in Kabul stresses need for funds

 Five months into their rule of Afghanistan, the Taliban have increased revenue, cracked down on corruption and collected a surprising USD 1 billion in exports, the U.N. representative for the country said Wednesday.

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security_afghanistan
Security Situation

Afghanistan: US government warned of collapse of air force (in German)

As early as January 2021, the responsible inspector general warned of the collapse of the Afghan air force if US troops were to withdraw. His report was classified as secret and has only now been released. Why is unclear.  

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afghanistan_IR
International Relations

Afghan acting PM calls for official recognition of Taliban administration

Afghanistan's acting prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, on Wednesday called for international governments to officially recognise the country's Taliban administration, saying at a news conference in Kabul that all conditions had been met.

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evacuations_afghanistan_2
Evacuations

Local Forces in Afghanistan: One detention known so far (in German)

After the German military withdrew from Afghanistan, there was great concern for local employees. Now the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) names a specific case in which a local worker was imprisoned for a week.

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EU_AFGHANISTAN
International Relations

European Union re-establishes physical presence in Afghanistan -spokesman

The European Union said on Friday it was re-establishing a physical presence in Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, but stressed it was not formally recognising the Taliban-led administration.

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Humanitarian Crisis

Afghanistan: talks with Westerners in Norway will "change the warlike atmosphere", according to the Taliban (in French)

The Taliban in power since August, hope "to strengthen their diplomatic relations with all countries, including European countries and the West in general".

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Humanitarian Crisis

Afghanistan: talks with Westerners in Norway will "change the warlike atmosphere", according to the Taliban (in French)

 Since the return of the Taliban to power in August, international aid, which financed around 80% of the Afghan budget, has dried up.

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Human Rights

Afghan LGBT community faces 'serious' safety threats from Taliban: HRW

The Afghan LGBT+ community has faced an “increasingly desperate situation” with serious safety threats since the Taliban’s return to power, Human Rights Watch said in a joint report with OutRight Action International on Wednesday.

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Humanitarian Crisis

The UN sees Afghanistan on the brink of a humanitarian disaster and demands to release funds (in Spanish)

The UN warns that Afghanistan is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster and urged governments around the world again, especially the United States, to unblock the funds destined for the country that were frozen as a result of the Taliban seizing power in the country.  

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Humanitarian Crisis

At Oslo talks, West presses Taliban on rights, girls education

 Western diplomats have told the Taliban that humanitarian aid to Afghanistan will be tied to an improvement in human rights, according to reports emerging as meetings with a Taliban delegation wound up in Oslo, Norway.  

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Evacuations

Qatar resumes Afghan evacuation flights after two-month halt

Qatar has resumed operating passenger evacuation flights from Afghanistan, a senior Qatar government source told Reuters on Thursday, after a halt of nearly two months.   

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Humanitarian Crisis

It is everyone's responsibility not to let the Afghan people die (in Spanish)

The earthquake in Afghanistan a week ago is a catastrophe that comes at a time when the country is facing a very serious humanitarian crisis and the population cannot bear any more suffering.  

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Humanitarian Crisis

India, Central Asian leaders discuss aid to Afghanistan

 India and five central Asian countries on Thursday decided to set up a joint working group for providing aid to Afghanistan to tackle the humanitarian crisis and the issue of recognition of the Taliban, an Indian official said.

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drapeauxtalibans
Human Rights

Afghanistan: more than 100 former members of the government or security forces have been killed by the Taliban, according to the UN (in French)

 A United Nations report also notes a severe restriction of human rights, in particular concerning the rights of women and the right to demonstrate.  

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pakistantalibanIR
International Relations

Pakistan, Afghanistan decide to set up committee to address border issues

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to establish a high-level committee to handle border concerns following the conclusion of a two-day visit to Kabul by Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, who also heads the Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC), according to a press statement issued by Pakistan’s Press Information Department.

01-15 January 2022

In the first two weeks of 2022, media coverage on Afghanistan focused primarily on the precarious humanitarian situation in the country. Several reports covered the UN appeals for increased support (the largest single country aid appeal ever) as the country continues to grapple with harsh weather conditions in addition to challenges such as food insecurity and access to education for women and girls.  Media exposure in this reporting period, namely the results of news searches related to Afghanistan and migration saw a rise on 7 January but otherwise remained similar to the two previous periods. Learn more below.

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Women and Girls

The AP Interview: Taliban pledge all girls in schools soon

Since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, girls in most of Afghanistan have not been allowed back to school beyond grade 7.

 

 

 

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Food Security

UN: Afghanistan needs access to frozen funds - country threatens "tsunami of hunger" (in German)

The UN is demanding that the country be given access to its funds, which have been frozen since the Taliban took power. Most of the population is suffering from famine, so the United Nations launched its largest appeal for donations in history.

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Humanitarian Crisis

Taliban seeks greater role in distribution of Afghan foreign aid

The Taliban proposed a joint body of its officials and international representatives to coordinate billions of dollars in planned aid.

 

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Humanitarian Crisis

Guterres asks to suspend freezing Afghan funds to avoid a catastrophe (in Spanish)

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, asked to release frozen Afghan funds to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, in an urgent appeal made in his first annual appearance at the UN.

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Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations’ appeal to raise $5 billion in aid for Afghanistan remains unanswered (in French)

“It's a cry in the desert, a wake-up call about a country no one wants to hear about anymore.”

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Asylum

Number of asylum applications in 2021 higher than at any time since 2017 (in German)

More than 190,000 people asked for asylum in Germany last year. Most of those seeking protection come from Syria. About 30,000 people fled from Afghanistan to Germany.

 

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Berlin_evacuations_afghans
Evacuations

Afghan local forces in Berlin: "My brother must finally be evacuated" (in German)

In Berlin, refugees from Afghanistan have been fearing for their families since the Bundeswehr withdrew. Hundreds of local forces have not yet been evacuated - although they have long had promises from Germany to take them in.

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Humanitarian Crisis

UN seeks $5 billion to aid millions of Afghans as country struggles

The United Nations appealed for over USD 5 billion to help 22 million Afghans as well as 5.7 million Afghan refugees in five neighbouring countries.

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UNafghanistanAid
Humanitarian Crisis

UN aid to Afghanistan costs 4.5 billion euros (in German)

The UN Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) in Geneva announced that this was the largest humanitarian appeal for donations that the United Nations had ever written for a country. The amount includes the funding request of USD 623 million by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to support refugees and host communities in five neighbouring countries.

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RescueAfghans
Evacuations

Rescue of local forces to Germany is running slowly (in German)

Five months after the chaos in Kabul, the people who worked for the Germans in Afghanistan have not all been rescued. Hope rests on Minister Baerbock.   

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Evacuations

Afghan baby lost in Kabul airlift has been reunited with his relatives

Sohail Ahmadi was just two months old when he went missing on August 19, as thousands rushed to leave Afghanistan.

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Pakistan_id
Asylum

Pakistan Issues Identity Cards to More Than a Million Afghan Refugees

The government-run campaign, supported by UNHCR has updated the data of some 1.4 million Afghan refugees. This is the first large-scale effort to verify the status of refugees in Pakistan in the last 10 years.

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Political Situation

A Taliban delegation leaves for Iran to address political issues (in Spanish)

 A high-level delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, left this Saturday for Tehran, at the invitation of the Iranian government, to discuss bilateral issues.

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Women and Girls

Taliban ban public baths for Afghan women (in French)

As Afghanistan endures the rigors of winter, women may not be able to meet the most basic requirements of hygiene.

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womensshelterafghanistan
Women and Girls

7-year-old had to marry 80-year-old and found refuge in a women's shelter - but they disappear (in German)

In Afghanistan, almost all women's shelters are now closed. Under the old government, there were 24 women's shelters in the country. Since the radical Islamic Taliban took power, the protection system has almost completely collapsed.

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womenshselters2
Women and Girls

"Women belong home": Several Afghan women's shelters closed (in German)

Protection was once offered by the 24 women's shelters in the country. But since the change of power, security is increasingly dwindling: even the last shelters are now being closed.

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AfghansineuropeBerlin
Afghans in Europe

German Minister of the Interior Faeser sees Afghanistan as a "country of origin with good prospects of staying" – integration simplified (in German)

This enables asylum seekers from the country to take part in state-funded integration courses even before a decision is made on their application in Germany.

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snowafghanistan
Humanitarian Crisis

Snow in Kabul makes the suffering of many people even greater (Video, in German)

It has been snowing in Kabul these January days. Few children and adults find joy in snow. Especially for those families who cannot afford housing in the economic crisis, the winter weather makes the situation even worse.

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mannequins_afghanistan
Women and Girls

Afghanistan: Taliban ask shopkeepers to decapitate mannequins in their stores (in French – Video)

The Taliban have ordered clothing vendors in Herat, western Afghanistan, to decapitate models in their stores, which they consider contrary to their interpretation of Islamic law. The directive is in addition to a series of measures by the Taliban to impose their rigorous vision of Islam in the country, limiting public freedoms, especially of women and girls.

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Stranded Migrants

Migrant mother from Afghanistan dies in snowstorm (in German)

The woman and her two children (eight and nine years old) got caught in a snowstorm trying to get to Turkey. The incident happened near the Iranian village of Belasur.

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Food Security

A winter of famine looms over Afghanistan (in Spanish)

 Half of the population faces a food crisis while the agricultural sector slides off the same cliff as the rest of the country.

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Humanitarian Crisis

Hunger in Afghanistan - Parents sell their children (Video, in German)

Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world for children. In the past 16 years, almost 30,000 children have been killed or injured in armed conflicts, around a third of them in Afghanistan.   

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lostsonafgh
Evacuations

How parents fight for their lost son in Afghanistan (in German)

The Rahimis flee to Germany. They have to leave their son behind in Afghanistan. In the Taliban state, the danger for their child grows.

16-31 December 2021

Between 16-31 December, media coverage focused on the growing security challenges in Afghanistan and their impacts on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. The vulnerability of Afghan women, food insecurity, and he situation of Afghans fleeing into neighboring countries were also featured in various media outlets.

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FOOD INSECURITY

Number of children suffering from hunger in Afghanistan rises massively 

More and more children are going hungry in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took power in mid-August, the number of children who do not get enough to eat has risen by 3.3 million, according to the organization Save the Children.

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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Urgent call for help from artists from Afghanistan 

Many artists are on the run or hiding from the Taliban. The aid organization "Artists at Risk" calls for political action. 

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HRWAfg
SECURITY SITUATION

Afghanistan lives in fear: "A war has begun between the Taliban and ISIS"

Afghanistan doesn’t get to rest. Besides the Taliban's reign of terror, a local offshoot of ISIS is also trying to assert its dominance. Farmer Ashkhanaji, who became victim to an assassination attempt during a prayer, describes the situation. 

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USDroneAfg
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

US drone strikes killed thousands of civilians: report 

Nobody was ever held responsible for strikes that killed thousands of civilians in Afghanistan and the Middle East, a New York Times report has found. A US strike cell routinely sidestepped safety procedures, it found.

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ASYLUM

Almost 6000 relatives are waiting to enter Germany

In the embassies of neighbouring countries, Afghan family members face long waiting times for visa applications. Almost 6,000 Afghan family members are currently waiting for an appointment to join their families in Germany.

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AFGEducation
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

"There's nothing left out there for us" 

Since the return of the Taliban, a lot has changed at Afghan universities. Many students have not even returned. And among those who came back, many doubt their decision. 

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WomenAfg
WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN

Left to fate 

When the Taliban came to Bamyian province, women's shelters had to close. Residents returned to their violent husbands – or are considered missing. 

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exodusHazara
SECURITY SITUATION

The Exodus of the Hazara 

The Hazara minority in Afghanistan sees itself in a desperate situation. ISIS is threatening to destroy them, and confidence in Taliban protection is low. Many families sit on packed suitcases. 

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ChinaRussiaAfg
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

China and Russia reject exemptions from Taliban sanctions 

While a one-year transitional phase allows the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. China and Russia have rejected a US proposal in the UN Security Council to introduce "humanitarian exemptions" in the sanctions régime against Afghanistan. 

30 November-15 December 2021

Between 30 November and 15 December, media coverage on Afghanistan focused mainly on the looming humanitarian crisis and the increasing food security in the country. Several media outlets also continued reporting on the evacuation of Afghan nationals, resettlement efforts, as well as the human rights situation in the country. 

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FOOD SECURITY

World Food Programme: 98 percent of Afghans get too little food

Due to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, 98% of all residents are not getting enough food, according to their own statements. In a telephone survey conducted by the World Food Programme, almost no respondents in the country said they were currently eating enough. 

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ASYLUM

Portugal receives 273 Afghan musicians, artists 

Portugal has opened its doors to 273 Afghan citizens, most of whom are artists and musicians, following a joint operation with the National Music Institute of Afghanistan.  

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AidOrgaAfg
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Aid organisations in Afghanistan facing new difficulties

Aid agencies in Afghanistan report that they have faced numerous new challenges since the Taliban came to power. 

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AsylumGermanyAFG
ASYLUM

"Pure despair": Afghans in Germany fear for families 

Since the Taliban came to power, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled. Only a part of them managed to leave Afghanistan, many are hiding. Families of Afghans who could not leave the country are concerned for their relatives’ safety.

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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

World Bank considers releasing humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

The World Bank move could shift up to $500 million from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to humanitarian groups, according to a report by Reuters citing people familiar with the plan.

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AfghanUK
ASYLUM

The perilous journey for Afghans to reach UK by boat

A growing number of men and children fleeing the Taliban join those seeking to cross the Channel from France. A look at smuggling routes from Afghanistan, across Europe, to the UK.  

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HRWAfg
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Dozens of former security forces killed or disappeared according to Human Rights Watch

The Taliban leadership had promised a general amnesty to former security forces. A report now documents dozens of cases in which local Taliban commanders are said to have violated this.  

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AfgHumCris
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Afghanistan’s looming catastrophe 

As winter begins, Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. Without immediate action by governments and international organizations, there is the risk of a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions

15-29 November 2021

Between 15-29 November, media coverage focused on the growing economic instability in Afghanistan and further deterioration of living conditions in the country. The situation of Afghans fleeing into neighboring countries was also featured in various media outlets, as well as the vulnerable situation of women in the country.

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evacuation
Evacuations

Thousands of local forces still stranded in Afghanistan

After the Taliban takeover, the German government promised to quickly rescue the now threatened local forces of the Bundeswehr and other ministries. Internal figures show that the mission is progressing slowly.

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US Asylum
Asylum

Thousands of Afghans seek temporary US entry, only 100 approved

More than 28,000 Afghans have applied for admission to the United States, but only about 100 have been approved since the Taliban takeover.

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News Pic 2
Humanitarian Crisis

Aiders see the health system in Afghanistan "on the brink"

“Even before the political unrest, Afghanistan was one of the most dangerous places to give birth or to be a child,” said Acting Country Director of Save the Children in Afghanistan, Thomas Howells.

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Dushanbe
Trafficking and Smuggling

Afghanistan looms large at EU-Central Asia talks in Dushanbe

EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen asked Afghanistan’s neighbours to prevent human trafficking as they met their Central Asian counterparts in the Tajik capital.

 

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News Pic 7
Women in Afghanistan

Taliban unveil new rules banning women in TV dramas

Female journalists and presenters have also been ordered to wear headscarves on screen, although the guidelines do not say which type of covering to use.

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sailboat
Trafficking and Smuggling

Sailboats packed with migrants seek Italy in latest tactic

The lesser-known Calabrian migration route is increasingly being used by wealthier migrants and from Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians and Kurds. The Calabrian route has seen 9,687 arrivals as of 14 November, compared with 2,507 last year.

 

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Afghans in Europe

How Athens became the unexpected hub for Afghan women

In recent months, Greece appears to have welcomed more women fleeing Afghanistan than any other country, turning its capital city into a remote hub for Kabul’s former political scene.

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News Pic 4
Humanitarian Crisis

UN warns of bank collapse in Afghanistan

The United Nations warns of a total collapse of the banking system in Afghanistan. This would also make urgently needed humanitarian aid even more difficult.

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afghan borders
Asylum

Afghan refugees get cold welcome in Pakistan

Many Afghans are pushed over the border and into another kind of limbo.

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News Pic 3
Women in Afghanistan

Taliban ban women in movies and series

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed far-reaching restrictions on television content: They have banned actresses and the portrayal of foreign cultures from TV.

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The call from the embassy official struck her as strange
Women in Afghanistan

The call from the embassy official struck her as strange

Suraya Pakzad helped improve women's rights in Afghanistan for years. In an interview with WELT, she describes what has changed in the country since the Taliban took power.

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evakuierung
Evacuations

"Abandoned": This is how desperate the situation is for local forces holding out in Afghanistan

So far, the German government has taken 8500 local workers and their families out of Afghanistan, more than twice as many are still stuck. Criticism is growing because of the slow evacuations.

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News Pic 5
Humanitarian Crisis

UN: Millions of Afghans at risk of hunger

At least 18.8 million people in Afghanistan are unable to feed themselves, according to the UN. By the end of the year, there could be even more. The UN is therefore calling for more financial support.

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News Pic 6
Humanitarian Crisis

German diplomats talk with Taliban

For the first time since the Taliban came to power, high-ranking German diplomats have travelled to Kabul. Talks with the Taliban also focused on the financing of schools in Afghanistan.

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Evacuations

1500 visas issued to local Afghan forces in the past three weeks

In the past three weeks, 1500 visas have been issued for former Afghan local personnel of the Bundeswehr. Since the end of the military evacuation, 3,000 local workers have received an entry permit.

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Evacuations

Many local forces received acceptance letters only during evacuations

The Bundeswehr flew around 5,300 people from Afghanistan in August. According to a report, thousands more received a commitment from the federal government very late.

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Anxiety in Afghanistan as Taliban struggles for legitimacy
Humanitarian Crisis

Anxiety in Afghanistan as Taliban struggles for legitimacy

Despite a crisis of trust both within the country and abroad, three months after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, it is taking halting steps to pursue international legitimacy, a senior UN official in Kabul told the Security Council on Wednesday.

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afghan-women
Evacuations

The long odyssey of three Afghan women to Germany

The flight of three women from Afghanistan has come to an end after a long odyssey. They have now arrived in Berlin by plane, having previously failed to get to Germany at Kabul airport.

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Afghan in Jakarta
Asylum

Afghans in Indonesia protest slow UN resettlement process

Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Indonesia protested in front of UNHCR’s office in Jakarta to urge it to speed up their resettlement.

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Asylum

Afghan refugees, fearing Canada has abandoned them, dig in for a hard winter in overseas purgatory

The Globe reports that some Afghans who were promised sanctuary in Canada are still wading through bureaucratic processes.

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Calais
Stranded Migrants

Kurds, others converge in French camp, seeking to reach UK

At least 1,500 migrants are living in tents on a lot in northern France as growing numbers of people fleeing Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries seek to traverse the English Channel.

7-14 November 2021

In the week of 07-14 November, media attention has focused on acute food insecurity due to drought and the country’s economic collapse. Media outlets worldwide have also reported on the ongoing evacuation efforts of the Government Germany. During this period, several outlets covered forced returns back to Afghanistan. Media reports the issue of return, forced and voluntary, amidst the compounding challenges facing Afghanistan.

The media coverage is in line with an IOM survey in which 80 per cent of respondents in the country say they have lost their jobs and livelihoods. A joint report from the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) notes that more than half the population of Afghanistan will face high levels of "acute food insecurity" from November to March.

According to IOM, just over one million Afghans have been sent back this year, including more than 28,000 Afghans in the last week of October. "The majority were deported, returning to Afghanistan often broke and broken, in need of health support, food and rest," said IOM Director General, António Vitorino. Read the latest statement here.
 

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Returns

Thousands of Afghans deported from Iran to Taliban rule

Between October 21 and 27, the latest period for which IOM has figures, 28,115 Afghan migrants returned from Iran, totaling 1,031,757 returns so far this year.  

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Food security

Can the Taliban avert a food crisis without foreign aid?

According to the FAO and WFP, 23 million Afghans — including 3.2 million children under the age of 5 — are currently suffering from hunger.  

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Evacuations

First German charter flight brings 329 people out of Afghanistan

These are local workers and those in need of protection, including their relatives. 

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Asylum

Asylum seekers from Afghanistan: Significantly higher risk for certain groups under the Taliban

According to the EU asylum authority, EASO, asylum applications in the EU from Afghanistan rose by 38 percent in August compared to the previous month. 

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Forced migration

Thousands of Afghans flee to Iran every day

At least 300,000 Afghans fled to Iran. It is estimated that at least 300,000 Afghans have entered Iran since the Taliban took power. Some 3.6 million Afghans are reported to live in Iran. 

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humanitarian corridors

Italy: 1,200 Afghans to arrive with humanitarian corridors

New protocol has been signed in Italy for the arrival of 1,200 Afghans who need international protection.  

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trafficking and smuggling

Desperate Afghans turn to smugglers for help fleeing the country

The remote town of Zaranj, close to the borders of both Pakistan and Iran, is a major people smuggling hub.

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trafficking and smuggling

'What else can we do?': Increasing numbers engage smugglers to flee Afghanistan

Afghan migrants turning to smugglers in border towns like Zaranj are anecdotally increasing dramatically. Many of those fleeing had worked for the government or had other middle-class jobs. 

Disclaimer: This webpage curates public information and data. The opinions expressed in this webpage are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nor its Member States and other stakeholders. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the webpage do not imply expression of any opinion or endorsement whatsoever on the part of IOM, its Member States and other stakeholders concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. While the portal section "Afghanistan: Migration statistics, policy and news" has been made possible with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Switzerland, the contents on this section do not necessarily reflect their official policy or position.

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